Facebook Us!

Subscribe by Email

SAM raises over $500 through tournament

Source: Caliesha Comley. Despite the weather the frisbee tournament had a great turn-out.

By Caliesha Comley News Editor

Nearly every semester for the past three years the Georgetown College Student Abolitionist Movement (SAM) has hosted an Ultimate Frisbee Tournament to raise awareness about anti-human trafficking initiatives, as well as funds to support those organizations. Each year SAM is overwhelmed by the level of participation and enthusiasm for the tournament.

The Fall 2013 Backhanding Slavery Ultimate Frisbee Tournament proved no exception. Six teams, a total of 50 Frisbee players, came to the Georgetown REC field early last Saturday morning to begin warming up. Participating teams included a group of current GC students led by junior Connor Mook, a gathering of recent Georgetown graduates captained by Katie Sanders (’13), a team from Aldersgate Camp, a group of local Georgetown competitors, and two teams from Hanover College in Indiana.

Though the sky was overcast, teams were optimistic about a day of fun competition. After a short welcome and introduction to SAM’s mission, the teams played two rounds which would determine their seeding in the bracket.

However, before tournament play could begin, winter-like breezes and a steady stream of chilly rain soaked both fields and players. Despite miserable weather conditions, most teams decided to continue playing. Each team had an extremely positive attitude about the weather and even expressed thanks for the opportunity to support SAM.

At the end of the tournament, it was the combined Hanover College Team that came out with a well-deserved win in the championship game. Second place was earned by the team of local players who played consistently strong games throughout the day. Both teams have participated in the SAM tournament before, and it was a pleasure to reward their support over the past few years.

This year, subtracting only costs for providing breakfast and snacks for the players, SAM was ecstatic to devote all of the proceeds from the tournament to the India-based anti-human trafficking movement YouCanFree.Us. The organization provides restorative care to women exiting the sex slavery industry, including women forced into the industry through human trafficking.

The movement is directed by Sujo John, a recent visitor to Georgetown College and guest speaker who shared with the campus his Sept. 11 survival story last month. YouCanFree.Us will receive more than $500 from SAM in the next month to help fund their efforts.

SAM is sincerely grateful for the generous support, awesome talents, and positive attitudes of all the players and volunteers that contributed to make the tournament a success. SAM hopes to see all of these teams and many others at the spring tournament. It’s never too early to start forming teams, GC students!

SAM will host one more event this semester, and it is sure to be the largest yet. On Nov. 21, fair trade vendors from across the state will again gather in the LRC for the Holiday Fair Trade Market. This is a prime opportunity for holiday shopping that also promotes fair wages and improved lining and working conditions for workers around the globe. This event will take place from 7-9 p.m. and will be accompanied by an interactive exhibit on the second floor of the LRC.

Additionally, Director of Not For Sale KY Brittney Thomas will be featured at 6 p.m. as she talks about domestic human trafficking issues. The following day will see the return of Orange Friday stump speeches about conscious consumerism on the steps of Giddings.